Is there still a solar tax credit for Keene homeowners in 2026?
The 30% federal credit is gone for 2026 installations. What survives for Keene: New Hampshire's own incentives and tax treatment - verified against state sources.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - Keene systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Installed home solar for Keene homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
Keene, New Hampshire has about 23,036 residents, and its solar quotes are built from system size, roof complexity and export rules - not the town name.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, it is not available for any system placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 'placed in service' means the installation completion date, not the contract date.
If a salesperson in Keene tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: New Hampshire's own incentives and tax treatment, listed below, and lease/PPA arrangements where a company claims commercial credits - in which case the credit belongs to them, not you.
The 2026 numbers
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
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The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
New Hampshire rules that decide your payback
| Rule | New Hampshire status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Residential systems of 100 kW or less net meter under the 'alternative' NEM 2.0 tariff in effect since September 1, 2017, which credits exported generation at the full default-service (energy) rate and the full transmission rate but only 25% of the distribution rate, gives no credit at all for system benefits, stranded cost or storm recovery charges, and converts leftover net kWh into a monetary bill credit carried forward. |
| State incentive | No state-level incentive; utility rebates may apply |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | No exclusion on record |
New Hampshire's Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate Program is permanently closed - RSA 362-F:10 V-VII and IX were repealed by SB 303 (2024), and HB 2 (2025) closed all remaining Renewable Energy Fund rebate programs to new projects - so there is no state cash incentive for a 2026 homeowner install, and net metering is additionally rationed by a 100 MW statewide capacity cap allocated among utility territories.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What this means for Keene roofs
The honest 2026 answer for Keene: solar pays back slower without the 30% credit - paybacks that ran 7-10 years often now run 10-14 - but electricity rates keep rising and hardware is the cheapest it has ever been. The deciding factor is New Hampshire's export compensation, covered in the net metering section.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Getting Keene quotes
Before requesting quotes, have your last 12 months of electricity bills handy - system sizing should follow your real usage, not a salesperson's template. A bid sized far above your usage is a margin play, especially now that surplus export pays less in most states.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Common questions
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
Do I need a battery with my solar?
Not necessarily. Under full retail net metering, the grid effectively stores your surplus for free. Batteries earn their $12,000-16,000 price where export rates are low, outages are common, or time-of-use rates make evening self-consumption valuable.
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
Get solar quotes for Keene
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
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